Protesting for a Higher Porpoise

Around 25 animal rights activists demonstrated in front of the office of Governor Pastika on Friday, December 7, 2012, urging the provincial government close businesses that use captive dolphins as attractions.

The protestors brought traditional papier mâché floats (ogoh-ohoh) made in the shapes of dolphins in order to symbolize their protests.

According to Radar Bali, the protestors issued a statement demanding dolphins be released from their cages.

Leading the protests were members of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) – a group that maintains that no wild animal should be forced to live in captivity and works to end illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia.

Pramudya Harsani, a JAAN activist, said that there are several businesses in Bali that keep dolphins in captivity in order that they can be used as tourists attractions.

One of these companies, they said, is a hotel in Lovina. “We urge that this company be closed because in their cages the dolphins are denied food in order to make them more compliant to their trainers. This can result in the death of the dolphins.,” said Pramudya.

Pramudya said he hoped the governor of Bali would take firm steps to close such businesses. Adding, “Because many dolphins are tortured and many dolphins die in Indonesia as a result.”

“This is pure bisnis, if you want to study about the habitat of dolphins, that is best done in its habitat – the ocean. The dolphins should not be dragged to shore. What’s more, there’s no educational sign board explaining about these animals,” said Pramudya,quoted by Beritabali.com.

JAAN claims there are three businesses exploiting dolphins as attractions. One of these businesses is located in north Bali where the Bali Melka Dolphin Resort keeps a group of captive dolphins to swim with hotel guests who pay a surcharge for the privilege and for walk-in customers

“Why not build nature tourism attractions that will profit the fishermen? What’s happening represents neglect by the Bali government (of the dolphin’s situation). We ask governor Made Mangku Pastika to withdrawn permits allowing the exploitation of dolphins on land-based facilities justified by claims of education,” concluded Pramudya.